Our favourite moments from the Olympics

The Tennis Space

Monday, 6 August 2012

Simon Cambers: Like so many, I was absolutely delighted to see Andy Murray win the gold medal in the singles event – a win I hope, and believe, may just open the floodgates for him at the grand slam events in the next couple of years. Seeing that happen was my favourite moment but I would also like to pay tribute to the performance of the Bryan twins, Bob and Mike, who completed a career golden slam by adding Olympic gold to their various and many grand slam triumphs.

The 34-year-olds won bronze in Beijing but a gold medal was the only thing missing from their collection, so their victory over France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra saw them complete the full set. At the end, rather than their famous chest bump, one jumped into the others arms (embarrassingly, even after all these years I find it hard to tell them apart) and their joy was unconfined. They described it as their biggest ever win and as incredible ambassadors for doubles, they fully deserved their victory. Many congratulations.

Mark Hodgkinson: There were some memorable celebrations at the Olympics. Serena Williams did a little dance. Andy Murray did a ‘Pat Cash’. The French pair of Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga did something very French – kissing each on the cheek. But the most unexpected was Roger Federer’s, just after he had beaten Juan Martin del Potro to win their semi-final; he kissed the Swiss flag on his shirt. Of course, it’s not often that Federer plays with his country’s flag on his shirt – usually, the only thing to kiss would be the Nike swoosh, and some might regard that as strange behaviour, however much they pay him to wear their clothes. So he had something to kiss, and he kissed it. Watch the moment back on YouTube if you’re still not sure whether tennis players should be Olympians.

Alexandra Willis: A month ago, Andy Murray cried as he apologised for not winning the nation the grand slam title that everyone so desperately craves. He couldn’t even bring himself to look over at his team, because he knew it would make him cry even more than he already was. On Sunday, having destroyed the same man who made him cry in straight sets to win Olympic gold, Murray bounded over to the player box, clambered up, and proceeded to hug everyone in his box. Just as Murray had turned around and was preparing to make his way back onto Centre Court, he suddenly turned around and went back. Why? To deliver one more hug to 11-year-old Henry Caplan, who had run down from his seat in row Z, yelling Murray’s name at the top of his lungs. It showed just how much Murray has become loved by, and loves, his fans.

So that’s my favourite Olympic tennis moment. A close second though, has to be Laura Robson hitting Murray in the face with her mini Union Jack, as the gold medallist managed to tangle a larger version of the Union Jack around his head. Again.

Sunny nine

Favorite: Federer’s emotion after getting into the medal match after winning a marathon 3 setter w del Potro. It showed how far down he could dig. It might have tired him out for Andy’s more agressive play but I think in the end he thought it was worth it from what he said. Federer was very positive about himself and positive and gracious about Andy.